Mechanical closure



Sept. 17, 1940. H. 'r. KRAFT MECHANICAL CLOSURE Filed Oct. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

IIIII VIIIIIIIII/II III/II '1 INVENTOR Herman T. Kraft BY ATTORNEYS Sept. 17, 1940. H. T. KRAFT 2,214,732

MECHANICAL CLOSURE Filed Oct. 18, 1 9's'/- 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 F:- z: If

INVENTOR Herman T. Kraft Y W Y 7%:

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES MECHANICAL CLOSURE Herman T. Kraft, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application October 18, 1937, Serial No. 169,562

12 Claims.

This invention relates to closure devices and more particularly to mechanical closures for containers and the like.

It is an object of the invention to provide 9.010-

6 sure which is expansible and self-retaining within an opening by frictional engagement with the walls of the opening.

Another object is to provide a closure which may be repeatedly inserted in and removed from an opening without injury to the closure device or the article in which the opening is formed.

Another object is to provide a mechanical closure for a container used in the handling of corroslve materials, such closure being constructed so as to protect the working parts thereof from corrosion.

A more specific object is to provide a device of this character, simple in design and'construction and inexpensive to manufacture, which is arcircular opening in an'acid container and is provided with a rubber wall which closes the opening and protects the metallic parts of the closure from the acid in the container. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of suitable embodiments thereof which is made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view with parts broken awa showing a container closure constructed in accordance with the present invention applied to the opening in a cylindrical acid drum;

Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and with most of the acid container broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the closure removed from the opening of the container expander contracted;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding to the broken-away portion of Fig. 1, illustrating a modified construction of expander;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail in section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating another modification in expander construction;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail taken substantially on the line '|'I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the construction of a modification of the invention in which the pcand with the ripheral marginal edge of the expander is conranged to retain itself within a relatively large away showing amodiflcation of the invention in which the expander and holding member have interleaved scalloped edges and are secured together by annular rod to provide a hinged construction;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view similar to,'Figs. 3 and 8 taken substantially on the line I0|0 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figs. 3, 8 and 10 showing a modifica- 10 tion of the invention in which the expander is marginally secured to the holding member by rivets.v

The present invention contemplates a flexible and elastic rubber cup which is loosely receivable 16 in the opening to be sealed and is provided with means for expanding the cup to frictionally engage the walls of the opening. Preferably the closure device is of substantially circular construction although other shapes are contem- 2o plated. Carried within the cup is a relatively rigid member for reinforcing and protecting the flexible cup and carrying the expanding means which holds the cup in frictional engagement with the walls of the opening. 25

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, which indicate like parts throughout the several views, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown as applied to the opening of an acid container or drum I having an end chime 2 reinforced by wire beads 3. The cup '4, preferably formed of a flexible elastic material, such as rubber, fits loosely in the opening of the drum I. This cup has a substantially circular, fiat bottom 5 and a substantially cylindrical, upstanding annular wall 6 formed integral at the circumferential margin of the bottom side. The upper margin of the wall 6 opposite thebottom 5 is formed with a radially extending flange 1 arranged to overlie the chime 2 40 of the container, thus limiting the movement of the closure into the opening.

A rigid supporting member 9 extends across the opening inside the cup 4. This supporting member is roughly in the form of a dish or pan with a raised central portion and a substantially v cylindrical, annular wall Hi. The wall I0 is disposed on the inside of the cup 4 and substantially in contacting relation with the flexible Wall 6. If desired, the wall In may be integral with thesupporting member 9, as shown, or it maybe formed separately and suitably secured to the supporting member. The upper marginal edge of the wall I0 is formed with an outward, radially directed flange II, which overlies the flange I of the cup. Preferably, the extreme marginal edge of the rubber flange I is folded back upon itself to embrace the flange II of therigid wall Ill. Desirably, the supporting member 9 and rigid wall III are permanently secured to the cup 4 by I suitable means, such as vulcanization at the region of the flange I I.

Disposed between the supporting member 9 and bottom 5 of the cup 4 is an expander I4.

This expander correseponds in peripheral outline with. the bottom 5 of the cup. As illustrated in Fig. 1, it may be formed or a plurality of segments I5, separated from one another by grooves I6 and I1. These grooves or slits are disposedradially about a central opening I8 in the expander. The individual slits are insufiicient in extent to completely sever the expander. For example, the slits I6 extend inwardly from the outer periphery of the expander to points adjacent the central opening I8, thus leaving portions I9 joining or connecting the segments the slits I! extend from the central opening I8 radially outward, terminating at points short of the extreme marginal edge of the expander, thustom 5 of the cup 4. A thrust screw 23 is rotatably received in a central aperture of the supporting member 9 and has an annular, radially directed flange 22 which underlies the marginal portions of the supporting member 9 around the central aperture. This fiange engagesthe supporting member and prevents longitudinal movement of the screw 23 in the central aperture when the screw forces the expander I4 away from the supporting member. The screw 23 is formed with a squared end 24 which extends above the supporting member 9 so that the screw may be r0 tated by means of a wrench or other suitable tool. A threaded collar 25 rides on the threaded post 23 in the space between the member 9 and the bottom 5 of the cup. The collar is provided with an annular groove which is received it: the opening I8 of the expander I4. Suitable means such as a press fit between the collar and expander prevents rotation of the collar, so that it is carried up and down on the post 23 upon rotation of the latter. A washer 25, riveted on the end of the post 23, prevents the collar 25 from running oil the end of the post.

The expander I4 is normally of conical .shape, as shown in Fig. 3, substantially corresponding to the shape of the raised portion of the supporting member 9. When in this position the threaded collar 25 is received in the embossment 21 formed centrally of the suporting member and the extreme marginal edge 28 of the expander is substantially flush with the upstanding wall I9. Preferably the marginal edge of the expander is rolled to prevent its bitinginto and injuring the rubber cup 4. In this position of the expander the side wall 6 of the cup lies closely adjacent the annular wall I0 ofthe supporting member and the marginal edge 28 of the expander bears against the marginal edge of the supporting member in the region where the raised central or conical portion of the latter is formed into the wall It). Preferably, the'rubber cup is slightly distended when in this normal position, so that it adheres or fits snugly against the mechanical initial parts to facilitate the insertion of the closure into an opening.

Handles 29 secured to the supporting member 9 assist in manipulation of the device in placing it in or removing it from an opening in the container. A chafing strip 38 formed of rubberized fabric or the like having diagonally arranged threads is secured by vulcanization around the bottom marginal portion of the wall 6 of the cup 4, and is continuous over the marginal corner or edge of the bottom 5 to protect the cup against excessive wear by the expander I4. The outside of the cup 4 is coated with a relatively thin sheet of parafilne compounded rubber, indicated at 3|, to protect the closure against the deleterious efiects of the corrosive material in the container.

To seal a container the device is positioned in the opening with the expander I4 retracted to substantially the position indicated in Fig. 3. The post 23 is rotated by a suitable implement applied to the squared head 24 thereof so that the collar 25 moves downwardly and flattens out the expander to substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement increases the effective diameter across the marginal rolled edge of the expander so that the segments I5 move outwardly beyond the wall III of the supporting member and force the rubber cup against the sides of the container. The conical expander and threaded post afford a substantial mechanical advantage. so that considerable distending pressure may be exerted to efiect a tight seal between the closure and the walls of the container opening.

When it is desired to remove the closure the post 23 is rotated in the reverse directionto raise the collar 25 and retract the expander I4 so that the cup 4 is released from its press fit against the walls of-the opening and the device may be removed by means of the handles 29.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified construction of expander in which the segments I5 may be separately'formed and secured together by rivets 33 which are secured in one segment and slidably received in elongated slots 34 formed in tongues 35 and 36 of the next adjacent segment. The tongues 35 are disposed adjacent the peripheral margin 28 of the expander, while the tongues 38 are near the central opening I8. This alternate or staggered arrangement of the holding rivets and tongue permits distention and contraction of the expander. The segments are thus separated from one another by slots 31 which correspond to the slots I6 and I! described in connection with Figs. 1 through 3.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modification of the expander in which the segments I5'have their radial edges overlapping one another and are secured together by tongues 38 through which rivets 39 pass and are secured to the next adjacent segment. As illustrated in Fig. '7, the marginal edges 49- of the segments are not rolled as in the previously described expanders, but are constructed of relatively thick metal having the edges rounded over to prevent cutting of the cup. Additionally, the segments are secured together solely at their inner ends adjacent the central opendirected U-shaped groove 4! rolled on its lower marginal edge. An annular flange 43 defining the bottom of the groove 42 is embraced by the marginal edge of the supporting member 9 which is folded upwardly and back, as indicated at 44. The rolled circumferential edge formed on the segments l5 of the expander l4 loosely embraces the folded-over portion 44 of the supporting member 9. When the expander is in the retracted position illustrated by the full lines of Fig. 8, the outermost edge of the segments [5 are substantially flush with the upstanding -wall ll. Upon lowering of the expander to its distended position the rolled edge 45 of the segment moves radially over the joint or folded portion 44 of the supporting member 9 to force the rubber cup outwardly, as indicated by the broken lines. This construction is advantageous in that a connection is maintained between the marginal edge of the expander and the marginal portions of the supporting member, so that separation thereof is eliminated. In this manner any movement or looseness of the device in the sealed opening is prevented.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a construction in which a plurality of rolled scallops 41 are formed on the circumferential marginal edge of the expander l4. A number of openings 48 are formed in the corner of the supporting member where the conical portion joins the upstanding wall l0. These openings receive the rolled scallops 41 which are held in place by a circumferentially extending wire or rod 49 threaded through the openings 50 formed by the rolled scallops 41 and in engagement with the supporting member 9. The openings 50 are preferably radially elongated as illustrated in Fig. 10, to permit the radial expanding and retracting movements of the expander as indicated by the broken lines. Suflicient clearance 5| is allowed between the scallops 41 and the marginal portions of the openings 48 to permit free movement of the expander I4. At

the marginal edges of the segments l5 of the expander; relatively short scallops 52 are formed so that the marginal scallops of adjoining segments may both be received in a single opening 48 as indicated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modification in which the circumferential marginal edges 54 of the expander segments l5 are rolled downwardly and under, so that the segments may be secured to the supporting member 9 by rivets 55 which pass through elongated openings 56 formed in the supporting member; In this modification the upper marginal edge of the upstanding wall I0 is embraced by a folded over portion 51 of the upper marginal edge of the cup. Thus, there is no radially directed flange to restrict the movement of the closure into the opening of a container so that it may be positioned as far into an opening as desired. This feature is advantageous in shipping small quantities of material in a large sized container, since, if a drum is utilized, the closure may be moved axially therethrough until it is substantially at the desired level of .the material. The embodiments illustrated in Figs. 9 through 11 provide a construction in which the expander secures the supporting member against movement so that a firm Other modes of applying and utilizing the principles of the invention, including alterations in both the parts and the method of assembly may be employed, changebeing made as regards the details described, it being understood that the particular form shown and described and the procedure set forth are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration.

What I claim is:

1. A closure for an opening comprising a flexible cup having a substantially flat bottom and a substantially cylindrical annular wall integral with the bottom, the cup being loosely receivable in the opening, a supporting member extending across the cup and marginally secured to the cup wall, a distortable disk disposed between said.

bottom and said member, the peripheral edges of the disc being confined between the bottom and the supporting member, a threaded post mounted centrally inthe supporting member and secured to the disk, said post arranged to move the center of the disc toward and away from the supporting member while the edges of the disc are held between the cup bottom and the supporting member to distort the disk to. a substantially conical form of decreased diameter to permit insertion of the closure in the opening and to a substantially flat form substantially conforming to the bottom of the cup to.

expand the cup and frictionally retain the closure in the opening.

2. A closure comprising a flexible sealing member having an annular wall, a relatively rigid supporting member marginally secured to the sealing member, a plurality of substantially ,sector-shaped expanding elements having relatively wide curved ends disposed adjacent the annular wall of the sealing member and relatively narrow ends converging toward one another I at the center of the closure, and means for simultaneously moving all of said narrow ends of the elements toward or away from the central part of the supporting member while the curved ends of the elements are retained against the supporting member adjacent the annular wall of the sealing member.

3. In a closure for a cylindrical opening, a supporting member, a flexible and deformable sealing member havingan annular wall portion peripherally embracing the supporting member and a bottom portion marginally connected to the annular wall portion, the central'part of said supporting member beingspaced from the bottom portionof the sealing member, a sectorshaped expanding element disposed in the space between the supporting member and the bottom portion of the sealing member, said element having a curved end confined between the supporting member and the sealing member anda narrow end disposed centrally of the closure and movable axially with respect thereto in 'the space between the supporting and sealing member, and means for moving the narrow end of the expander element 'axially with respect to the supporting member. 7

4. A closure comprising a pair of relatively thin sectioned substantially conically 'shaped members of relatively incompressible material, one member constituting a supporting member and the'other an expander member, the expander being normally nested within the supporting member and the supporting member having an annular wall portion extending axially with respect thereto around the periphery of the supporting member, an annular deformable and flexible sealing member peripherally embracing the annular wall portion of the supporting member, and means for moving the center of the expander in an axial direction while the periphery thereof is retained against axial movement to distort the expander to a substantially flat shape thereby moving the peripheral portions of the expander radially outward, and the periphery of the expander being engageable-with the sealing member to distend the latter upon said distortion of the expander.

5. A closure for a substantially circular openinghaving a substantially cylindrical wall, comprising a flexible sealing member loosely receivable within the opening and having an annular wall portion normally of less diameter than the opening, a relatively rigid supporting member disposed within the sealing member, said rigid member having a substantially annular Wall disposed against the inside surface of the annular wall of the sealing member and a central portion in spaced relation with respect to the bottom of the sealing member, a relatively rigid expander disposed between the supporting member and the sealing member bottom, said expander having sliding engagement with a peripheral portion of the supporting member and movable radially with respect to the supporting member beyond the annular wall of the supporting member to radially distend the annular wall of the sealing member into frictional engagement with the wall of the opening and thereby frictionally secure the closure within the opening, and means for moving the expander radially.

6. A closure for a circular substantially cylindrically walled opening comprising a flexible sealing member loosely receivable within the opening and having a bottom portion and an annular wall portion normally of less diameter than the opening, a relatively rigid supporting member disposed within the sealing member, said supporting member having a central internally conical portion and an annular wall extending axially from the base of the conical portion, the annular wall of the supporting member being embraced by the annular wall of the sealing member and the conical portion of the supporting member being spaced from the bottom of the sealing member, a relatively rigid expander disposed between the supporting member and the 'bottom of the sealing member, said expander being distortable from a substantially flat shape to a substantially conical shape and having peripheral marginal portions movable radially to engage and distend the sealing member upondistortion from said conical shape to said flat shape, and means for effecting distortion of the expander.

'7. A closure comprising a flexible cup, a disc having marginal portions disposed against the inside of the flexible cup to support the same, means engageable with marginal portions of the disc for restraining axial movement of said margins, and means for shifting the center of the disc axially while the margins are so restrained to distort the disc to a conical shape and reduce the efiective diameter of the 'supported cup and to move the disc to a substantially flat shape to distend the cup and thereby increase the effecof the sealing member, said edges being confined between the sealing and supporting members to prevent shifting of said edges while the center of the expander is movable toward and away from the supporting member, and means for moving the center of the expander relative to the supporting member to distend the edges of the expander and thereby distend the sealing member. Y I I 9. A closure comprising a flexible sealing member of cup-like form having side and bottom portions, a rigid supporting member within the sealing member, an expander of distortable character marginally interlocked with the supporting member, and means for moving the center .of the expander toward and away from the supporting member while the edges are interlocked to efiect distension and contraction of the ex-' pander.

10. A closure comprising a flexible sealing cup-' like member, a rigid supporting member disposed within the sealing member in nested relation, an expander having a circular periphery disposed against the supporting member periphery and restrained thereby against axial movement, and means for moving the center of the expander toward and away from the center of the supporting member to distort the expander, thereby altering the diameter of it periphery.

11. A closure comprising a cup-like flexible sealing member having a substantially cylindrical wall and a substantially flat bottom, a rigid supporting member disposed within the sealing member and having a bottom and a substantially cylindrical wall embraced by. the sealing member wall, an expander including a multiplicity of elements each in engagement at its outer end with the inside of the sealing member and connected at said outer end to the supporting member, and means for moving the inner ends of the expander elements toward and away from the center of the supporting member to thereby shift the elements radially.

12. In a closure comprising a flexible rubber sealing member having a substantially circular periphery and metal members including an expander arranged to engage the sealing member and distend the same radially to increase the diameter thereof, the improvement which comprises an annular reinforcing band of diagonally disposed cords-secured to the sealing member at the region thereof subjected to the pressure of the expander and in contact with the expander.

HERMAN T. KRAFT. 

